Abstract
Abstract Soil salinization is a ubiquitous global problem. The literature supports the integration of remote sensing (RS) techniques and field measurements as effective methods for developing soil salinity prediction models. The objectives of this study were to (i) estimate the level of soil salinity in Abu Dhabi using spectral indices and field measurements and (ii) develop a model for detecting and mapping soil salinity variations in the study area using RS data. We integrated Landsat 8 data with the electrical conductivity measurements of soil samples taken from the study area. Statistical analysis of the integrated data showed that the normalized difference vegetation index and bare soil index showed moderate correlations among the examined indices. The relation between these two indices can contribute to the development of successful soil salinity prediction models. Results show that 31% of the soil in the study area is moderately saline and 46% of the soil is highly saline. The results support that geoinformatic techniques using RS data and technologies constitute an effective tool for detecting soil salinity by modeling and mapping the spatial distribution of saline soils. Furthermore, we observed a low correlation between soil salinity and the nighttime land surface temperature.
Highlights
Soil salinization, which is a common form of soil degradation, is one of the world’s most widespread environmental problems [1,2,3,4,5]
This statistical significance indicates that the relation between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and soil salinity is caused by one of them affecting the other and that there is less than 5% probability of rejecting the relation between NDVI and soil salinity
We developed a model for estimating and monitoring soil salinity in Abu Dhabi (UAE) using remote sensing (RS)-based spectral indices and field measurements of soil salinity
Summary
Soil salinization, which is a common form of soil degradation, is one of the world’s most widespread environmental problems [1,2,3,4,5]. This global problem results in land degradation, especially in irrigated areas in arid and semiarid environments as well as in some subhumid regions [3,6]. General estimates indicate that approximately 1 billion hectares of land are affected by salinization worldwide, constituting 7% of the continental area of the Earth and 58% of the irrigated land [3,13,14]. It is crucial to determine which lands are affected by soil salinization, evaluate soil salinity, and determine the root causes of salinization to help decision makers develop management plans for ensuring the sustainability of
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